Good afternoon!

I will be speaking to you for approximately 10 minutes. Give or take.

In those 10 minutes seven million tons of ice will be melting on the Greenland and Antarctica ice-sheets. Give or take.

Ice loss in Greenland and Antarctica has reached record levels seven times in the last ten years. In both regions, ice-melting is accelerating rapidly.

The ice that melts as I talk to you, will contribute massively to all the climate turmoil we experience around the world. And it will continue to do so after I finished my speech. It will continue to do so while we will enjoy nice drinks and inspiring conversations.

I am saying this to remind us all here that no matter how eloquently we will be discussing, no matter how elaborate the plans we will be making:

It all means nothing if we do not put those plans into action.

You are the people that have the minds to come up with solutions. But you also have the hands to make those ideas reality. Don’t forget that.

This goes for our ideas for the role of Europe in the world. And it goes for anything else. Including the extremely urgent topic of climate change.

You cannot separate any of these things. Climate Emergency and Europe had a significant tête-à-tête in Slovenia only a couple of weeks ago.

When the amount of rain that usually falls in a month came down in a single day. Two thirds of Slovenia were affected directly. And all of a sudden this beautiful, beautiful country faced a challenge that could only be softened with European solidarity.

Nataša Pirc Musar, president of Slovenia, is here today and can tell us a lot about it. Welcome, dear Nataša, thank you so much for coming and being with us.

And let me tell you: We are with you, too. The European family is with you. I hope you experienced it the same way, as Europeans from Croatia, France, Germany and Austria rushed in to help and soften the blow. With their hands and, hopefully sooner than later, with money.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I believe that the last weeks gave a good example for the importance of the European idea. Europe is not a continent of „either/or“. Europe is a continent of „and“. Europe shows that our different heritages, our different traditions, languages and ideas are not something that stands between us but much rather something that we all can profit from.

Europe is a unique continent. And the European Unification is the best idea we ever had. Our societies are economically successful and empathic.

We believe in science and in art. We use our minds and our hearts. Most of us believe that diversity can be an asset, not a problem.

We embrace technology and protect privacy. We know that progress without respecting nature is no progress.

We move fast. But we don’t break things.

The people of Europe chose to form this union as a consequence of the horrible experiences of the second world war and centuries of other wars against each other. That unity was an act of rationality as well as an act out of our common love for peace. We showed that even countries that were in conflict for many centuries could find a common ground.

We demonstrated that it is possible to change the way we think or see the world. We have come a long way from an egotistical, egocentric, even imperialistic attitude towards the world and nature. We proved that we can change. By learning from our mistakes. By doing better. And by doing so, we gave an example to everyone. We all can change for the better.  

I strongly believe that in this sense Europe can be a role model for the whole world. More than ever in a time of raging nihilism and fatalism the world needs an example. An example that proves: there is a way into the future. And it is not the way of extremes. It is not the way of reckless, exploitative capitalism.mIt is not the way of egotistical autocracy. It is not the way of blind nationalism looking backwards only.

The way that leads us into the future is considerate. Educated. Confident. Compassionate. Inclusive and feminist. Cultured. Smart. Modest. European.

You can tell from my words that I love Europe. And I believe in Europe.

But if you love something and you believe in something, you also have to protect it. We have to protect Europe from all the exit scenarios that come up these days: Brexit was not a good idea. Dexit or Öxit or whatever kinds of exit there might be are not only bad ideas but also harmful and dangerous and we need to defend our European idea against anything that might weaken our position. Because this is the agenda of populists all over the world. To weaken the European community.

We cannot let that happen. We should not let that happen.

We need to work together to make this an even closer union. We need to do everything that makes us stronger. In every field of our societies we have to find answers to questions like this:

• How do we reach strategic autonomy?
• What’s our position in the global competition for raw materials?
• How do we secure the access to world markets for European companies?
• What is the European perspective on artificial intelligence?
• How do we guarantee a proper functioning health system for our citizens?
• How do we organize European defense if no single European country can effectively resist attacks by a powerful foreign aggressor?

We need to invest in common projects that strengthen our society. We need to invest in common projects that make us more resilient. That’s why I think Sky Shield is a good idea. That’s why we need to invest in innovation.T hat’s why we need to streamline our European processes of decision making. To get stronger as a union. To be taken more seriously in the world. To be seen for what we are. A constructive and benevolent world power.

You see, we hear so many worst-case scenarios these days. Sometimes I try to forget about them and imagine what the best-case scenario for the next ten years would look like:

• Then I see a Europe that leads the world by example.
• I see a Europe that is the leading force in containing climate change.
• I see a Europe that attracts scientists from all over the world.
• I see a peaceful Europe.
• I see a beautiful Europe that values its nature.
• I see a Europe that is not afraid of new technologies.
• I see a Europe that embraces diversity and makes it a strength.
• I see a Europe that’s prospers and grows.
• I see a Europe that is not only strong but also aware of its strength.
• I see a Europe that is a benevolent force on this planet. And for this planet.

We have the best requirements to find all the solutions. Not the way of the strongman. Not the way of unregulated capitalism. Not the way of the populists.

The European way.

We will think it. And we will put it into action. Come on, fellow Europeans: Let’s go.